Politics

Trump Targets Memphis: What the New Crime Crackdown Means for Residents

Trump plans to send National Guard to Memphis, TN, to combat crime, following safety concerns.

September 12, 2025, 12:55 PM

An aerial view of the Downtown Memphis, Tennessee skyline at sunset with the Mississippi River in the background

An aerial view of the downtown Memphis, Tennessee skyline, highlighting its mix of historic and modern buildings at sunset. By Connor D. Ryan / Shutterstock.com.

Executive Summary

Donald Trump announced an expanded federal effort to crack down on crime in Memphis, Tennessee.

The intervention in Memphis will involve the deployment of National Guard and potentially military troops.

The decision to focus on Memphis was influenced by Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena’s safety concerns regarding the city, as well as Chicago and St. Louis.

The Story So Far

President Donald Trump’s administration has an ongoing commitment to addressing crime in urban centers, building on previous federal interventions in cities like Washington. The specific decision to target Memphis, alongside Chicago and St. Louis, was directly influenced by safety concerns raised by Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena, who reportedly requested National Guard troops due to the severe security situation in these cities, even needing a bulletproof limousine in Memphis.

Why This Matters

President Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard and potentially military troops to Memphis signifies a notable expansion of federal intervention into local crime efforts, a move partly influenced by corporate safety concerns, which could intensify debates over federal authority, the militarization of urban policing, and its impact on community relations.

Who Thinks What?

President Donald Trump announced his administration’s intention to target Memphis, Tennessee, with an expanded federal effort to crack down on crime, including the potential deployment of National Guard and military troops.

Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena expressed concerns about safety in Memphis, Chicago, and St. Louis, and reportedly requested National Guard troops for these cities due to personal safety fears.

Memphis’s mayor and Tennessee’s governor reportedly support the federal intervention in Memphis, according to President Trump.

President Donald Trump announced Friday that his administration intends to target Memphis, Tennessee, as part of an expanded federal effort to crack down on crime in major U.S. cities. Trump indicated that National Guard and potentially military troops would be deployed to the city, a move he stated had the support of Memphis’s mayor and Tennessee’s governor.

Speaking in an interview on “Fox & Friends,” Trump directly stated, “I’ll be the first to say it right now, again, we’re going to Memphis.” He drew a parallel to previous federal interventions, asserting, “We’re going to fix that just like we did Washington.”

The decision to focus on Memphis also stems from concerns raised by Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena. Trump mentioned that Vena had specifically requested National Guard troops for Chicago, St. Louis, and Memphis to address safety issues.

Vena reportedly conveyed to Trump that he felt the need for a bulletproof limousine when traveling in Memphis due to safety concerns. Trump further alluded to Vena’s similar apprehensions regarding the security situations in Chicago and St. Louis.

The announcement underscores the Trump administration’s ongoing commitment to addressing crime rates in urban centers, expanding its focus to additional cities following earlier federal actions.